Control system



May 14, 1940- c. DAvls 2,201,123

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 1, 1939` IZ Sheets-Sheet 1 :ll/1 A Amrum" BY @@(IQZL A ORNEY.

May14, 1940. A-CLDAv'ls 2,2o1;123

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 1, 1939 i 2 Sheets-Sheevt 2 Z\ 4f 47 f 4a 5 if ATTO EY.

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UNrrisz'oy STATES 4Plrrlsirn y carl-cacoN'rnoL srs'rEM c. Davis, New York, N. Y., minor t vikm Instruments, Inc., Stamford, Conn., a. corporation of New York Application July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,407

Claims.

ment adapted to perform some function such as shutting down the engine, or "giving an alarm.

Systems of this nature that have heretofore been proposed are either electrical or mechanical. Electrical systems entail high .initial cost and complicated mechanism and are objectionable in -'that failure of electric power vitiates the system.

Mechanical systems utilize pressure-operated, pressure-responsive means and pressure-operated, temperature-responsive means,- both of which are connected to a control mechanism, op-y erable upon decrease in lubricating oil pressure or increase in temperature in the cooling uid system. Such control systems require a Vcapillary tube for connectingvthe pressure-operated element of the temperature actuatedpart of the control, to the temperature-responsive bulb installed' in the cooling fluid system.

The use of such capillary tubes is undesirable for several reasons; The capillary tube system must be vacuum tight, which condition is diilicult to maintain in that the joints andrelatively long sections of small diameter tubing increase the likelihood of damage due to vibration. Also, carelessnessby operating personnel may cause damage to the necessarily 'exposed capillary system.

'I'he present invention overcomes these dimculties and provides a very simple, directand positively-acting mechanical control for engines of the ty'pe described, eliminating'the necessity for capillary tubing in the temperature-acuisted parts of the system. The invention further provides a single pressure-operated, pressure-responsive device in a pressure lubrication system in which are provided one\or more valves directly responsive to a predetermined condition and thereby adapted to be opened to by-pass the vlubricating oil back into the crank case of the engine and thereby to lower the pressure sufficiently to operate the pressure-responsive device.' The `by-pass valves may be made responsive to temperature changes in the'iiuid circulation system .,claims. The 'invention itself, however, both asl tn its organization and its method of operation,

(ci. 12a-198) together with additional objects-and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description .of specific embodiments, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine in which the principles of th invention may be utilized;

y Fig. 2 is a similar view showing la modiiled wayv in which the principles of the invention maybe utilized;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a thermostatic bypass valve suchas may be used in the illustrative structures of Figs. 1 and 2; l

Fig. 4 is a side elevation with cover removed of a means for producing mechanical movement when a reduction in pressure occurs in the lubricating system of an engine; l

` the line 5 5 of Fig. 5 is a section taken on F18. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a slightly modified form of device for producing mechanical movement upon a decrease of pressure in the lubricating system, an'd showing how this movement may be utilized in a diierent way from thatillustrated in the preceding figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, the control Vsystem of the invention may be adapted for use with an engine I'comprising a cylinder head I I, crank case III, base I2, crank shaft I3, and cooling fluid circulatingy pump I4. The latter may be of the centrifugaltype. designed to circulate the cooling iuid through line I5, the waterjackets of the engine, lines I 6 and I'l,.heat exchanger Il, and back to the pump through line I9. The engine has a fuel pump 2li of the usual type and may have a rack to which is secured an extension 2I. The end of extension 2i carries a pin 59 which co-operates with a fitting 22, attached to control rod 23 ofpressure-responsive device 24,7in such manner that the extension may oscillate with the rack when the pump is in operation. When the rod 23 of pressure-responsive device 24 is moved in the direction ,of the arrow in Fig. l, the rack extension is similarly'moved and the injection valves of the engine closed.

A line 2l is tapped into the crank case at a suitable point 26 in the high pressure side of the lubricating oil system of the engine, and connected to pressure-responsive device 24 through T ntting 21. A gauge 28 connectedto 26 by line 20 may be used to obtain a visual indication of the pressure in. the system.

Pressure-responsive device 24 is illustrative of one type that may be used in. applying the principles of the invention, Aand is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and.,5. The same may consistof a. casing -30 having end walls II and 32, which latter carries. a bellows unit 32 connected by nipple 36 to the 1 fting 21 in the lubrictil-'IE Ezes pressure line. To nipple 34 may be threaded a nut 35, in turn secured to the end wall 36 of bellows unit 33. 4

Extending longitudinally of the casing 30 is' a shaft 49, one end 46a of which is slidably mounted in member 4| threaded in boss 32a of wall 32, and the other end 46D of which is slidably mounted in boss 3|a on end wall 3|. To the end wall 32 within bellows unit 33 is secured a bellows 42, the end 45 of which is secured to the shaft 40 as at 43. The end of shaft 40 is encircled by a spring 44 abutting against end wall 45 of the bellows, and slidable collar 46 on the shaft. Adjustment of the threaded member 4| in boss 32a alters the degree of compression exerted on spring 44 so that a greater or less pressure Within space 33 of unit 33 will 'collapse the bellows against the force of the spring and cause shaft 40 to be moved outwardly toward wall 3| Intermediate the shaft 48 is an abutment 41 which may be secured to a threaded nut 48 arranged to engage complementary threads in the shaft 40 for adjustment in a longitudinal direction. A latch 49 having an apertured end 50 disposed against the abutment 41 is pivoted at 5| in a bracket 52 secured to the casing 39. A spring 53 may besecured to the latch 49 and to the end 3| of the casing in order to pull the latch against the abutment 41. Shaft 40 carries a dog 40 pivoted at 4|)d and having an end 4|]e adapted to be brought into contact with wall 3| of casing 'Ihe lower end 49a of the latch is adapted to be depressed when the latch is turned on its pivot 5| so that the end 49a abuts against a shoulder 54 of rod 23, one end of which is provided with a spring 55 adapted to be compressed between wall 32 and a cap 56 secured to the end of rod 23. -The spring construction is such that when the shaft 23 is moved in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 4 and 5, the movement is resistedby spring 55.

The fitting 22 may be screwed to shaft 23 andy locked by pin 51. The rfitting is preferably constructed so that it has an open space 58 in which pin 59 on shaft 2| may oscillate while the fuel pump is adjusting itself to varying loads.

The construction of the illustrative pressure- -responsive device 24 is such that the normal pressure in the lubricating system will act through line 25 and T V21 on bellows 42, forcing the bellows inwardly against spring 44 and pushing.

shaft 48 and abutment 41 toward end Wall 3|. Spring 53 maintains the upper end 50 of latch 49 against abutment 41 so that the lower end 49 locks against 4shoulder 54 of rod 23, thus allowing the fuel pump rack to assume a number .of operative positions defined byk the length of 'opening 58 in fitting 22. A drop in the pressure causes bellows 42 to expand, abutment 41 to move toward wall 32 against the end 58 of the latch 49, throwing the other end 49a out of engagement with shoulder 54 so that the control rod 23 is moved in a direction opposite to ,that of the arrows in Figs. fl and 5 under the action of spring 55. The end l60 of fitting 22 engages Vpin 59 in extension 2| and pulls the fuel pump rack to a position where the injection valves of the engine are closed.

In order to make the system described above responsive to other conditions, such as an undue rise in the temperature of the cooling water of the engine, a thermostatic by-pass valve 6I is inserted in the lubrication system as between line 62, connected to fitting 21 and line 63, leading back `to a low pressure point in the crank case as at 64. Device 6| contains a temperature-sensitive element 65 which is extended into the cooling fluid circulation system as through the end of the T fitting 66.

The thermostatic by-pass valve may be of any desired construction. For instance, it may `be made as shown in Fig. 3 so that it consists of' a casing 61 having an inlet orifice 68 into which is threaded bushing 69 for connecting line 62 thereto, and an outlet orifice 10 provided with bushing 1| for connecting line 63 thereto. i Within the casing 61 is a valve 12, adjustably held against a seat 13 by a spring 14, the end of which is held by a cap 15 threaded into the casing as at 16. Valve 12 is disposed on a shaft 11 into which l extends pin 11B secured to a flange 18 carrying bellows 19 connected through fitting 19B to the temperature-'sensitive element 65 which may consist of a closed bulb containing a liquid having a vapor pressure which rises rapidly upon elevation of temperature.

When the thermostatic by-pass is secured in the system' as indicated in Fig. 1, the valve part 12 is normally closed so that the pressure in the oil lubricating system remains at its normal level during operation of the engine. If the temgperature of the cooling fluid rises to a point suf- Iicient to raise the vvapor pressure of the liquid within bulb 65 so that thefpressure therein overcomes the pressure exerted on valve 12 by the spring 14,`the valve is opened, allowing the oil to be by-passed'back to the crank case. This causes a drop in pressure in the system at 21 and operates the pressure-responsive device 24 in the manner above described.

Afterl the cause of the abnormal condition is discovered and steps taken to eliminate it, the engine may be started. During the start the control may be reset by lifting dog 4|)c on its pivot so that the end 4|)a abuts face 3| and draws out the shaft 40. Spring 53 maintains latch 49 against abutment 41 and causes the lower end 49?* of the latch to engage shoulder 54 on control rod '23, when cap 56 is pressed inwardly to move the When normalr rod y'into latch-engaging position. pressure has been built up, the dog 48 is released so that it assumes the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. Y I

Inthe embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, I have shown how a control system embodying the invention may be used to throw the throttle or governor lever of an engine to the stop position. A

` pressure-responsive device 24a similar to that previously described may be mounted on support 8| suitably fixed to bracket 82 secured to engine 86 or to any suitable supporting structure. The pressure system may include line 83, takenfrom a high pressure point in the lubricating oil system as at 84, T-iitting to which device 24e is the engine through turnbuckle 92. A spring 93 v may be connected between bracket 94 on support 8| and bracket 96 on rod 90. Movement of the throttle to rim position is thus-resisted by spring 93. The position of lever 9| is regulated by the adjustment of turnbuckle 92. A button 96 may be secured to the end of the shaft corresponding to 40 in Fig. 4.

In operation, the latch -within device 24a is disengaged from control rod' 238 in the manner described in connection with Figs. l, 4 and 5, thus releasing the rod and causing'it and rod 90 to move in the direction of the arrow under the force of spring 932 'Ihis brings the throttle lever 9| to stop" position. 'Ihe device may be reset during starting by holding lever 9| in the run position until the lubricating oil pressure builds up to the required point for resetting the latch, after which lever 9| may be released and will be held mechanically in run position.

In Fig. 6 I have shown how the control may be utilized to sound an alarm in the event that abnormal conditions are reached in the lubricating system, or in any auxiliary system that may affect the pressure therein through one or more by-pass valves connected therein in the manner described. A howler |00 and a light |0| are connected in series across mains |02 .and I 03 as indicated, the light being of suilicient resistance that the howler is not energized under normal conditions. 'I'he pressure-responsive device 24x is preferably housed within a water-tight casing 30x, constructed along the lines of that illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The device carries a shaft 40x slidably mounted in member 4|x similar to that described in Figs. 4 and 5. `The other end of shaft 40x is slidably mounted in hub |04. A contact |05 on insulating collar |06 is mounted on shaft l0", arranged to coact with fixed con- A `When abnormal conditions arise in the system due to a decrease of pressure 'occurring therein for any reason, shaft 40x moves in the direction of the arrow and contact |05 engages contact |01, thereby short-circuiting the light |0|. This causes an increase in current in the howler circuit and energizes the latter, thereby warning the attendant of an abnormal or dangerous condition.

It should be understood that the embodiments above described are illustrative merely and do not limit the invention. One or more by-pass valves may be provided within the pressure system, each operable mechanically upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, either in the auxiliary systems of the engine or in another engine, such as overspeed, underspeed or other condition. While it is preferable to provide a separate valve operable on the occurrence of a single condition, a valve operable upon the occurrence of any one of a number of conditions may be provided. Whatever the condition to which the'valve is responsive, however, it is highly desirable that it be arranged so as directly to aiect the valve and positively to produce a movement opening the valve, thereby effecting an immediate response in the pressure-responsive system.'

In the case of a temperature-responsive by-pass valve, it is desirable to iill'a bulb, such as that shown at 65, with an expansible liquid or one characterized by a rapid rise in vapor pressure on increase of temperature, in o rder to ensure this action.

In order to ensure positive operation it is also desirable to protect the operating parts of the valve structure against external iniiuences. For

this purpose, casing II and iitting 19|, as well as the moving parts therein contained, should be made of sturdy, rustless metal such as brass or bronze, and precautions taken against the breakdown of said parts.

In the event .that it is desired to shut down the engine on the occurrence of the undesirable conditions, it is not essential that the fuel pump rack be moved to close the injection valves or that the throttle or governor be moved to stop position.' For instance, a buttery valve in the air intake of the engine may be closed by the mechanical movement produced by the pressure-responsive device, or suitable fingers may be provided on a supporting member adapted to be raised byla cammovement to lift the exhaust valves of the engine from their seats, thus preventing compression within the cylinders and causing the engine to stop. These and other modiiications will readily be apparent to persons skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a pressure lubrication system and a pressure-responsive device therewithin, a mechanically operated by-pass valve in such system, said valve being normally closed during the operation of the engine but being adapted to be opened to by-pass lubricating oil from the pressure system to the crank case of the engine and thereby to lower the pressure and actuate said pressure-responsive means.

2. In an oil pressure system for internal combustion engines, a line leading from a high pressure point in said system to a low pressure point thereof, a pressure-responsive device and a normally closed valve in said line, said valve being adapted and arranged to open directly upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition extrinsicof those in the lsaid pressure system whereby the oil therein is by-passed to the low pressure point thereof and the pressure-responsive device is actuated.

3. In an oil pressure system for internal combustion engines containing within it a pressureresponsive device, a normally closed valve in said system, said valve being mechanically operated and being adapted and arranged to be opened directly upon the occurrence of one of a `number of predetermined conditions extrinsic of said system and thereby to reduce the pressure therein and actuate said pressure-responsive device.

'4. A control for internal combustion engines having a pressure lubrication system, said control comprising a pressure-responsive device and a normally closed, mechanically operated by-pass valve within such system, said by-pass valve being adapted and arranged to operate directly upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition and thereby to actuate the pressure-responsive device.

5. A control for Diesel engines comprising in combination a pressure lubrication system, a pressure-responsive device and a valve therein, said valve including a spring holding it closed under normal conditions, said valve being operable to open against the force of such spring directly upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition and thereby to actuate the said pressure-responsive device.

ALAN C. DAVIS. 

